Israel approves jailing children from age 12

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israeli lawmakers have approved jailing children as young as 12 convicted of "terrorist offences" following repeated attacks by young Palestinians, parliament said on Wednesday.

"The 'Youth Bill,' which will allow the authorities to imprison a minor convicted of serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder or manslaughter even if he or she is under the age of 14, passed its second and third readings... Tuesday night," an English-language statement said.

Violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel since October has killed at least 219 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked gave the bill full backing when it came before a ministerial committee last year.

Israeli rights group B'Tselem criticised the bill and Israel's treatment of Palestinian youths.

"Rather than sending them to prison, Israel would be better off sending them to school where they could grow up in dignity and freedom not under occupation," it said in a statement Wednesday.

"Imprisoning such young minors denies them the chance of a better future." 

Military law, applied to Palestinian residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, already allows imprisonment of 12-year-olds.

A 12-year-old Palestinian girl from the West Bank, convicted of attempted murder by a military court as part of a plea bargain and sentenced to four months, was released from prison in April.